Protect name and address being known by the public as sole trader

[Tom1975]

I am totally new to starting a new business.I care very much about my personal information so I choose to register as a sole trader rather than a limited company,as the latter you need to disclose your names , home adress and birthday that anyone can google from internet .But after I did some research I found as a sole trader even you open business bank account,your customers still need to input your name rather than your trading name to make the payment.And the invoice need to contain my personal home address as well.Is there anyway to project my name and address from being known by the public.Thanks.

 

[Scalloway]

Is there anyway to project my name and address from being known by the public

Not showing your name and address could be construed as fraud. You can register a limited company at an accomodation address and your home address will not be shown.

 

[fisicx]

The answer is: no you can’t hide. Legally you need to display an address on your invoices, website etc. You could use a forwarding address but even this wouldn’t prevent someone from finding out where you live.

 

[Tom1975]

The answer is: no you can’t hide. Legally you need to display an address on your invoices, website etc. You could use a forwarding address but even this wouldn’t prevent someone from finding out where you live.

Thanks for reply.If I use a virtual address service how can people still find my personal home address?

 

[fisicx]

Thanks for reply.If I use a virtual address service how can people still find my personal home address?

Follow you home. Use a tracking service. Social media. Talk to your friends. Loads of ways to find out where someone lives.

Anonymity is hard to maintain if you run a business.

 

[Tom1975]

Follow you home. Use a tracking service. Social media. Talk to your friends. Loads of ways to find out where someone lives.

Anonymity is hard to maintain if you run a business.

All my business is online so tracking service will not work here ,but thanks for reply.

 

[fisicx]

All my business is online so tracking service will not work here ,but thanks for reply.

Makes no difference. If someone wants to find out where you live it’s not difficult.

 

[Tom1975]

Makes no difference. If someone wants to find out where you live it’s not difficult.

I am afraid it's not your call to say make difference or not .I understand what you are trying to say but it's not helpful at all.

 

[DontAsk]

All my business is online so tracking service will not work here ,but thanks for reply.

If you are selling online then the law requires you to show a full geographic address on your website.

If I saw an address that I suspected was an accommodation address then you would not get my business. I would assume you were trying to hide something.

 

[fisicx]

I am afraid it's not your call to say make difference or not .I understand what you are trying to say but it's not helpful at all.

I’m not really sure what you want. You can use a service address on your website/invoices and you can use a fulfilment centre to hide who you are. But that’s only surface level anonymity. It doesn’t offer any real protection and as @DontAsk said it’s going to hurt your sales.

 

[Tom1975]

If you are selling online then the law requires you to show a full geographic address on your website.

If I saw an address that I suspected was an accommodation address then you would not get my business. I would assume you were trying to hide something.

That's interesting .I wonder what kind of people would put their home addresses to a public website to win business from people of your kind .For my case ,I choose my customers too.I do this business not just for money, mainly for fun to keep me busy after retiring .

 

[DontAsk]

That's interesting .I wonder what kind of people would put their home addresses to a public website to win business from people of your kind .

I'm not sure how to take that. What kind of person do you think I am?

I would say the majority of people working form home use their home address on their public website. I do, and the house telephone number. The only problem I've ever had was Vodaphone trying to sell me business phone services.

 

[fisicx]

I wonder what kind of people would put their home addresses to a public website….

Most people do. It’s a trust thing.

 

[Tom1975]

Thanks all for your response.Putting an end to this discussion.Though some of the replies are quite subjective ,I understand how to protect privacy now.To me privacy is over money.

 

[MBE2017]

End of the day OP, what is being said quite correctly, there is no guaranteed way of hiding. If you choose a PO Box, accommodation address, use your accountants address etc, legally whilst you might gain a certain amount of cover, none are going to stop people tracking you down if they truly wish too.

For a start, if the Police etc get involved, they will all hand your details over instantly, as might your payment processor etc.

As for who would list their home address on a website, those decent people who stand by their product or service. Done it over four different ventures over the last 25 years, never had a call or visit, never occurred to myself I would.

 

[fisicx]

I understand how to protect privacy now.

Not sure you do. All you know how to do is keep your home address off your website.

 

[japancool]

That's interesting .I wonder what kind of people would put their home addresses to a public website to win business from people of your kind .For my case ,I choose my customers too.I do this business not just for money, mainly for fun to keep me busy after retiring .

Well, anybody who runs a limited company does that.

Whenever I engage tradespeople, they almost all have their home addresses on their pages. I wouldn't engage one if they had a PO Box number, or what appears to be a service address. They know where I live, and they're entering my home, why shouldn't I know where they live?

 

[Gyumri]

Companies house provides the option to keep a director's home address secret in that it doesn't need to be displayed. So forming an Ltd could provide some privacy.

 

[Ian J]

Companies house provides the option to keep a director's home address secret in that it doesn't need to be displayed. So forming an Ltd could provide some privacy.

But it doesn't get around the problem of having to put the address on the website as well as other documents

 

[Gyumri]

But it doesn't get around the problem of having to put the address on the website as well as other documents

Correct but in that case it wouldn't be his home address but the registered or trading address of the Ltd.

It wouldn't give complete privacy of course if his home telephone number is listed on BT's directory!

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

My address is registered at my house even though we run out of a physical yard

It is important to be honest and straight with your customers and suppliers.

This philosophy will help me buy another home in the sun I hope ?

 

[Tom1975]

Thanks for those who privately message me not to be discouraged by the people who are arogent and subjective in this thread.I feel it's necessary to leave my last comment before leaving this forum.

Yes ,@fisicx,you are the arogent one I meant .You know nothing about me and my business,but keep saying there is no way to keep the privacy if someone wish to track me home ,find my home address.Thats very subjective comment also I feel quite uncomfortable.Even I pointed out this to you that's not helpful you keep "attacking" me .Do not try to persuade others if you know nothing about them.This is my kind warning to you before I leave this forum.Hope this will get you rethink what you have said to others and what you can improve in the future.

The other guy on this thread mentioned Police can get my private information immediately.Are you indicating I am doing something ileagal so that's why I trying to hide my home address?What's the point here to get this case involved?

Others mentioned you published your home address and you are totally happy with that . Remember,that's just you,you are happy does not mean others have to follow you.

I would say just because there are so many unfriendly people like you that's why I would like to hide my personal information.And you proved it's right already.

Thanks for those kind message sent to me privately.I won't be discouraged but I have decided to leave this forum.I would rather Google than being pulled into a meaningless discussion which people only show their highly subjective comments.

 

[kulture]

Regardless of using the company house director anonymous feature you need a registered address for your company and a physical address for your website. If you have a physical shop or warehouse then you can use that for both. It would likewise establish trust. If however you use an obvious accommodation address like your accountant then for some customers this will put them off.

Not knowing what service or product you will be selling, there is no way for us to determine whether this would be material. Based on your attitude here, which is limited, I would avoid doing business with you.

 

[fisicx]

Sorry you found me arrogant. That wasn’t my intention. I was just trying to point out that if privacy is that important to you maybe running an online business isn’t the best option.

It’s not subjective. There have been many discussions over the years on this subject on many platforms and conclusion has always been the same. Anonymity is very difficult to maintain. The more public your business the harder it is to remain private.

If your online business remains very small and privately marketed and you have no social profiles the chances of staying private increase. But you may well become popular and that means your anonymity could be compromised.

 

[fisicx]

@Tom1975 - This is a story from someone I knew who also wanted to remain private.

They ran a consulting business from home but used their accountant as an address. All was well until he had someone dispute an invoice. This person couldn't get the home address but they had a name and general location. With this information they used one of the many online services that could search the electoral roll and soon had an address. The consultant didn't get a knock on the door but they did receive documents from moneyclaim online.

 

[MBE2017]

The other guy on this thread mentioned Police can get my private information immediately.Are you indicating I am doing something ileagal so that's why I trying to hide my home address?What's the point here to get this case involved?

No, I didn’t mean that you were doing anything illegal. If you are going to be in business you need to stop painting yourself out to be a victim, everyone offered you honest straight advice.

 

[Tom1975]

Have read some comments from trustpilot now I understand you do have a culture of bullying newcomers .Then it explains everything.Though I am new to setting up UK business,I am not new in doing my business and investment .For those two who said I couldn't win your business just because I was not willing to publish my personal home address ,or my attitude.I would like to tell you my wealth already allow me to choose customers I want to deal with.Hope you can move up to this level someday soon so that you don't have to satisfy every customer just to make money .

 

[Newchodge]

Thanks all for your response.Putting an end to this discussion.Though some of the replies are quite subjective ,I understand how to protect privacy now.To me privacy is over money.

I would never, under any circumstances, do business with any kind of supplier if I could not establish their address. It screams fraudulent trader to me. Just as one example, if we are in dispute where would I send the legal claim form?

 

[ctrlbrk]

I would never, under any circumstances, do business with any kind of supplier if I could not establish their address. It screams fraudulent trader to me. Just as one example, if we are in dispute where would I send the legal claim form?

Cyndy, what I think Tom is trying to say is that there is a difference between putting your own home address out there in the open and using a service address.

In both cases above you can establish someone's address.

 

[Newchodge]

Cyndy, what I think Tom is trying to say is that there is a difference between putting your own home address out there in the open and using a service address.

In both cases above you can establish someone's address.

It depends on the 'service addrss' You cannot serve legal papers on a box number or an accommodation address.

 

[UkAppCoder]

If you think this is bad, then you should read a couple of my posts after I've had a couple of beers! When I wake up in the morning I do feel a little embarrassed, but then I think "well at least nobody knows where I live". Yeah right! LOL!

Seriously though, Tom, this place is certainly not perfect, but then, which community is? You need to learn how to use this place and not be such a snowflake.

Some people here might come across as perhaps a little too brash and might even sound a little arrogant (myself included), but this place really can be very helpful.

For example, I'm currently working on a business plan. Everything was pretty much sorted, but up until a couple of weeks ago, the most crucial part just wasn't gelling - i.e. how to make my advertising spend bring paying customers to my website and apps. I'm convinced that this has now been largely addressed, and I have certain members here on UKBF to thank for this (including @fisicx).

So, I am now convinced that my business plan will work after I've tested my advertising strategy a few times, and it is no understatement to say that this will change my life for the better. I will be working just as hard as ever, but the work will be infinitely more rewarding than it was, and it might just be a bit more lucrative if I work hard enough.

I think you should take an early break for a little while and revert to read-only mode. I'm sure you'll want to return later and contribute.

 

[fisicx]

Cyndy, what I think Tom is trying to say is that there is a difference between putting your own home address out there in the open and using a service address.

I agree. You can anonymise your business but Tom asked about not making his private address public. And that’s just not possible. There is nothing you can do to stop someone identifying where you live and then publishing that address online.

 

[Gyumri]

It is important to be honest and straight with your customers and suppliers.

I think everybody agrees that honesty is the best policy but I don't read the OP's wish to keep his home address private as an attempt to avoid being honest and transparent with his customers.

He may have personal reasons why he wants to keep his home address private and unconnected with his business.

 

[Newchodge]

I think everybody agrees that honesty is the best policy but I don't read the OP's wish to keep his home address private as an attempt to avoid being honest and transparent with his customers.

He may have personal reasons why he wants to keep his home address private and unconnected with his business.

I don't think anyone is trying to impugn the OP's character. I am just stating how I react to a supplier whose address I cannot check.

 

[japancool]

I dunno, this attitude looks awfully familiar.

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[estwig]

I dunno why you guys are feeding the troll!

 

[DontAsk]

I would like to tell you my wealth already allow me to choose customers I want to deal with.Hope you can move up to this level someday soon so that you don't have to satisfy every customer just to make money .

Arrogant? Pot. Kettle. Black!

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I dunno why you guys are feeding the troll!

I agree its is easy to get drawn into a foolish thread

Put it simply !
If you are scared of your own shadow then dont go into business

 

[Ian J]

Put it simply !
If you are scared of your own shadow then dont go into business

And if you don't like people disagreeing with you then don't join a discussion forum

 

[fisicx]

As @Tom1975 no longer wants to be part of UKBF this thread can be closed. His question has been answered in a number of posts but it seems that answer is not what he wanted to hear.